CNSM at Home - February 2021

A Message from the Dean

 

Dear Faculty & Staff,

I have been heartened to see the number of COVID-19 cases continue drop in Southern California, as well as to know that over 14% of Californians have received their first dose of the vaccine. While we must continue to be careful and follow public health guidelines, I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

As you know we as a college are continuously learning and striving toward equity and justice in STEM. After Dr. Nicole Joseph's enlightening workshop, we have hosted our first round of drop-in anti-racism discussion groups. If you weren't able to join last time, I encourage you to make time for the next round of discussions and help us continue the conversation. Please contact Margaret Karteron to sign up for the small-group discussions.

Along the social justice line, next week we will be hosting a screening window of "Picture a Scientist."

You are all invited to join the CNSM March 3-6 screening window. You will be emailed a link that provides access to the film any time between Wednesday March 3rd and Saturday March 6th.

As the film's website explains: "This film examines the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women in the sciences. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries - including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists - who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all."

The college will also be hosting a Picture a Scientist reception. We invite you to join the discussion and take advantage of the social element of Wonder to catch up with your CNSM colleagues.

I am looking forward to continuing to have these important conversations with you all in our work towards equity and justice.

This week the Provost announced the return of a select few face-to-face classes on March 1. Though the rest of the campus community will continue conducting classes through Alternate Modes of Instruction during the Spring semester, this is still an exciting step toward getting us back to campus.

In other good news, Faculty can request the use of offices for teaching- or research-related activities via the Faculty Office Request chiclet on the SSO dashboard. Information is available at the request website, but briefly: Monday through Thursday, faculty may request office access for the following week. Requesting office access through the SSO chiclet does not replace any of our existing processes for arranging a visit to CNSM buildings:

• weekly research scheduling (faculty with approved LRRAs can use their offices when they are scheduled for research)
• office visits for urgent need or to pick up materials (request dean or associated dean approval 1-2 days in advance)
• teaching from quiet WIFI rooms in CNSM buildings (request via email to department chair and Barbara Taylor)

In all cases, visits to campus should be limited in frequency and duration to the minimum required to accomplish an essential activity. Building occupancy is restricted to 25% normal occupancy, so please bear in mind the needs of others to access our buildings.

Be safe, be well, be just.

Curt

---

Sub-Zero Hero

How one biology lab technician and a collaborative campus environment ensured CSULB's closed vaccine rollout got a smooth start.

Cal State Long Beach is among the first CSU campuses with a closed vaccine rollout plan, with a goal of getting the huge university population back to business-as-usual. But logistical issues almost halted the process before it began.

The campus was set to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored within a specific temperature range in order to be effective. Knowing the storage requirements, Student Health Services made arrangements to order a special freezer to house the vaccine doses. But the campus soon discovered that the pandemic would cause shipping delays.

With no adequate freezers available, the campus vaccine rollout plan was in danger of delay.

Enter the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, specifically one very dedicated technician.

On January 29^th, Michelle Giffin (a molecular biology lab technician in the biological sciences department) was contacted by the CNSM safety office and informed of the campus's urgent need for a -80^°C freezer. Giffin jumped at the chance to help and offered her super low freezer for vaccine storage.

 

The freezer is normally used for instructional purposes. The Biology major track contains a molecular biology focused lower-division class that requires the college to store large amounts of student fractionated cells from cauliflower. The freezer also houses supplies for upper-division molecular biology courses. These supplies must be kept in ultra-low temperatures to keep delicate DNA, RNA, and proteins from degrading or inactivating. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is made from RNA.

 

Giffin sprung into action immediately after receiving the call. She quickly moved the items in the freezer to a back-up location, cleaned the unit and got it ready for transport. The freezer was moved to SHS just two days later.

 

 

"It was a whirlwind of communication over a short period of time," said Giffin, "I'm happy that I could help in some way and facilitate vaccine distribution as soon as it was made available to us."

Thanks to the quick thinking and hard work of a dedicated technician and safety officers in CNSM, and a truly collaborative campus environment, the CSULB closed vaccine rollout plan was able to move forward as scheduled.

---

You're Invited: Picture a Scientist

Save the Screening Window Dates: March 3 - 6, 2021

Join us for a film screening of Picture A Scientist.

This is a film that asks us to examine the way we look at scientists (and mathematicians). Picture a Scientist chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries - including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists - who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.

 

All faculty and staff will be sent a link early next week to access and view the film during the March 3-6 viewing window.

We hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity and be part of the conversation.

 

The college will be hosting a Reception on Friday, March 5 at 4:00-5:00 p.m. on the Wonder.me platform.

Join the hosted discussion and take advantage of the social element of Wonder to catch up with your CNSM colleagues.

RSVP to let us know you'll be there

---

Scholarships

CNSM is pleased to announce that through the generosity of our donors, we will be able to award over fifty scholarships throughout the college and its departments.

Students can submit a single application and potentially qualify for multiple scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Visit our Scholarships page to learn more about the available opportunities and criteria.

---

Faculty Feature: Dr. Kagba Suaray

 

CNSM's Dr. Kagba Suaray has been featured on the university's website detailing his efforts to found Hesabu Circle and to get black kids excited about mathematics.

 

---

Local Love: CNSM Take-Out Recommendations

We Asked, You Answered

Last month we asked you to send in your Long Beach friendly take-out recommendations, and you delivered!

Below are the most frequently recommended restaurants from your CNSM colleagues.

 

Happy Ordering!

Stay Safe & Healthy CNSM!